Renewing EU anti-dumping taxes on ammonium nitrates imports from Russia would prolong the dysfunction in the EU fertiliser market.

That’s according to Tom Short, chair of the IFA’s inputs team, who was speaking at a DG Trade hearing this week.

The taxes have been in place for over 25 years but are due to expire from this autumn. However, European fertiliser producers have asked DG Trade to renew them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Short said: “The fertiliser industry is profitable enough, they don’t need further protection with anti-dumping measures.”

He was supported by a representative from French farming association FNSEA, who demanded that ammonium nitrates be available at a competitive price to EU farmers.